NASUWT backs trade union rights in Turkey
The NASUWT is backing a new campaign calling on the Turkish government to allow workers full labour rights.
Amnesty International is joining forces with trade unions in Turkey to demand the authorities uphold international standards
Despite commitments by the government, many workers are still denied their internationally-recognised rights.
In the private sector the right to organise and form trade unions is not being respected and despite recent constitutional changes, there continue to be limitations to the right to strike.
Some public-sector employees still do not have the right to join or form trade unions or to bargain collectively. The right to strike is still denied to all civil servants, according to Amnesty.
Tens of thousands of protest postcardss are being distributed globally and human rights activists from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, Britain and USA will be taking part.
Unions and federations in Turkey are supporting this effort, with 100,000 of these cards distributed through trade unions in Turkey.
The campaign is strongly supported by the NASUWT and Joint Vice-President Mick Lyons recently attended the conference of Egitim Sen, the education and science workers’ union.
Mr Lyons paid tribute to the union’s “long and difficult fight to stop the human rights abuses” of its members.
He told the conference: “On behalf of the NASUWT, I reaffirm my union’s support for the work of our friends and colleagues in Egitim Sen.
“The NASUWT endorses your call for the immediate release of trade unionists who have been unjustly imprisoned by the authorities.
“We stand with you in your struggle to ensure the freedom of our trade union sisters and brothers.”
Mr Lyons also highlighted and praised the work of Gulcin Isbert, who is Women’s Secretary of the union. Ms Isbert is currently being detained in prison by the Turkish authorities.
He called on the Turkish government to allow here to travel to the Education International World Congress in South Africa this summer.
